Medway School Committee appoints new finance director

MEDWAY - The School Committee Thursday appointed a new Director of Finance and Operations position after the current head of school finances, David Verdolino, is set to retire at the end of the current fiscal year.

The committee appointed Don Aicardi, currently the Director of Finance for Acton Public Schools and Acton-Boxborough Regional Schools.

According to Superintendent Judy Evans, the district received "a number of applicants" and Aicardi was one of two finalists that met with the district and town officials.

Aicardi said he has held that job†for four years. Before that, he served as the director and assistant business manager for Worcester Public Schools, the assistant chief financial officer in Framingham and assistant to the mayor of Attleboro.

School Committee member Cindy Sullivan said one of the things that stood out to her during the interviews was Aicardiís comments about focusing on the needs of students rather than the "details and numbers."

Aicardi spoke briefly about his time setting the budgets of the 45 schools in the Worcester School District, which had a budget of over $200 million and sometimes caused school administrators to focus on finances rather than students and education, he said.

"Numbers and dollars are important, but Iím here to support the kids and principals," he said.

Committee member Rich Eustis asked Aicardi about his brief time working for former state senator Warren Tolman in the 1990s.

Aicardi said he worked as a congressional aide for three years in the 1980s and "had always toyed with the idea about going back into legislative service."

But after three months, Aicardi said he realized his "heart was more on the municipal side" after finding himself torn between "local government and legislative service."

"Very simply, I wanted to stay in local government," he said.

According to Evans, Aircardiís site visit to Medway consisted of a personal interview with Evans, a meeting with business office staff members and a meeting with town officials at town hall.

All that met him offered Evans with written feedback, none of which was negative.

"I'm comfortable that he has the skill set and experience necessary to come in and do the best job out of the other highly-qualified candidates," she said.

Zachary Comeau can be reached at 508-634-7556 and zcomeau@wickedlocal.com. Follow him on Twitter @ZComeau_MDN.